Get a vroom with a Vue...
By TMX Archives on 21st May 09
AT risk of repeating what I've written on page five this week the main trials story is of course last weekend's World Round at Nord Vue, Armathwaite, in Cumbria. The venue has been used for club trials for many years by the Cumberland County Club, under the name of Blaize Fell, but no-one, until Graham Jarvis came along, ever envisaged it as a potential venue for a World Trial.
Personally, along with many others, I wasn't convinced it would cut the mustard, even after Graham laid-out sections for the reinstated British Experts Trial last year. The Experts itself was a good event, but the sections were nowhere near World standard.
So, no praise is too much for Graham and excavator driver Neil Wilson, who totally forgot what had gone before, started from scratch and came up with no fewer than 15-sections, most of which were effectively hand-carved from solid rock. It was a terrific effort and not wasted on the spectators, many of whom commented on the sheer amount of hard work that had obviously gone into the course.
Speaking as a northern centre resident, it was good to see plenty of locals turn out, some of which had ridden or attended plenty of trials but hadn't actually ever seen a world round and they were all absolutely amazed at the skill on display.
There was plenty to get excited about, the youngsters were in the thick of the action, Jonathan Richardson, Ben Morphett, Alexz Wigg and co, while in the big class, when it comes to British riders Dougie Lampkin is still the big name and he had plenty of support, which all helped Doug gain his first podium since 2007 – so it must have been good.
There was a time on Saturday when it just passed through your mind that with a stupendous ride and a little luck he might just have squeezed that magic 100th GP win. James Dabill obviously has the skill to nail big results, he just needs the consistency while Michael Brown, while showing flashes of his true skill, is still coming to terms with the factory Sherco after switching from Beta.
The Nord Vue crowd was generous in its applause for all competitors and no-one begrudged Bou and Raga their places on the podium – they earned the privilege.
Shame that local teenager Jonny Walker couldn't make it onto the podium in his home round but it didn't just quite go right for the Ace Gas Gas rider over the weekend. You don't often get the chance to ride a World Championship event in what's effectively your back yard and Jonny probably tried just that bit too hard. In reality he did little wrong, there was certainly no disgrace in his pair of seventh places and there's plenty still to come from Jonathan.
Takahisa Fujinami's crash on Saturday was a monster and full marks to him for coming out on Sunday, obviously in pain from bruised ribs (at the least) and he even gave the offending 13th section his trademark full-throttle attempt, well controlled on the first lap but old-style wild Fujigas second time through. A little Japanese magic saw him escape with just a one on his card!...
Just one thing to say really – a big well done to everyone concerned.